Santa Claus is definitely coming to town this holiday season as the star attraction of parades across North Texas. Those include the return of the Dallas Holiday Parade and Fort Worth’s Parade of Lights, two of the biggest events that were either canceled or scaled back last year for coronavirus safety reasons. You can find detailed route information, road closures, parking tips and more on event websites.
GM FINANCIAL PARADE OF LIGHTS
Downtown Cowtown will sparkle for the 39th edition of the lighted parade. There’ll be 100-plus illuminated floats, marching bands, equestrian units, costumed characters, horse-drawn carriages and antique cars. Santa and Mrs. Claus will wave to the crowds from their LED-lit grand finale float. Fort Worth’s Opal Lee, who’s called the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” is this year’s grand marshal. She and her family will ride a float in the parade, and 1,000 copies of her Juneteenth children’s book will be given away at 1 p.m. in General Worth Square. Watch the parade for free, or reserve bleacher seats along the route. Organizers suggest getting to downtown early before the streets become too congested. The parade steps off at Throckmorton and Weatherford streets, moves south on Commerce Street, winding through downtown before ending at Throckmorton and Third streets.
Virtual viewing: Live on KTXA-TV ( Channel 21) from 6 to 8 p.m., streaming at fortworthparadeoflights.org and facebook.com/ParadeofLightsFW.
- Nov. 21 starting at 6 p.m. at Throckmorton and Weatherford streets in downtown Fort Worth. Free; reserved seating starts at $15. fortworthparadeoflights.org.
WAXAHACHIE CHRISTMAS PARADE
Lighted floats will roll through historic downtown for an evening parade that takes off from Getzendaner Park and travels to the Ellis County Courthouse. Family fun activities take place downtown starting at 6 p.m. including the official tree lighting on the courthouse lawn following the parade..
- Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. starting at Getzendaner Park, 400 S. Grand, Waxahachie. Free. waxahachiecvb.com.
GRAPEVINE’S PARADE OF LIGHTS
Lighted floats, marching bands and other parade entries will shine brightly as they roll along historic Main Street for the city’s 42nd holiday parade. The route is along Main Street from Hanover Drive to Northwest Highway. Arrive early to view the choreographed light show outside City Hall (200 S. Main St.) starting at dusk.
- Dec. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. on Main Street, Grapevine. Free. grapevinetexasusa.com.
DALLAS HOLIDAY PARADE
Santa rolls into Big D bringing cheer to thousands who will line Commerce Street. Highlights of the parade include costumed characters, marching bands, dance and drill teams, elaborate floats and larger-than-life balloons. Admission to the parade is free; reserved bleacher seating is available to purchase. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Commerce and Houston streets and continues east on Commerce, making performance stops along the route. Check the website for updated route details.
- Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. in downtown Dallas. Free; reserved seating starts at $25. dallasholidayparade.com.
RICHARDSON CHRISTMAS PARADE
Marching bands, high-stepping drill teams, floats, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will wind through Richardson for the city’s 49th holiday procession. The parade route follows the northbound lanes of Coit Road starting at Cherrywood Drive and concluding at J.J. Pearce High School (1600 N. Coit Road).
- Dec. 4 starting at 9 a.m. from Coit Road and Cherrywood Drive, Richardson. Free. facebook.com/RichardsonParksandRec.
LEWISVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE
The parade is part of the Holiday Stroll festivities in Old Town Lewisville, stepping off at noon from Cowan Avenue and Main Street. The route goes east on Main, south on Mill Street and ends at Purnell Street. (See Page 25 for more on Holiday Stroll activities.)
- Dec. 4 at noon starting at Cowan Avenue and Main Street, Lewisville. Free. cityoflewisville.com.
TWINKLE LIGHT BOAT PARADE
Watch from the shoreline as watercraft decked out in sparkling holiday lights float across Grapevine Lake. The twinkling flotilla begins at Twin Coves Marina and rounds the lake, stopping at each marina to pick up more boats. The floating parade will be visible from many points along the shoreline, including Oak Grove Park (2520 Oak Grove Loop South).
- Dec. 4 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Lake Grapevine, Grapevine. Free. grapevinetexasusa.com.
IRVING HOLIDAY PARADE
“Rudolph, Light the Way” is the theme for this year’s lighted parade that winds through Irving’s Heritage District. Expect sleighs, reindeer and elves, with Santa taking a bow at the parade’s conclusion. The parade is followed by holiday cheer at Heritage Park and the official tree lighting in front of City Hall.
- Dec. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Heritage Park, 217 Main St. at Second Street, Irving. Free. irvingtexas.com.
THE COLONY PARADE OF LIGHTS
A lighted community parade kicks off the holiday season in The Colony. The parade starts at Peters Colony Elementary School and ends at the Five Star Complex. The fun continues with a holiday carnival in Perryman Park (4930 S. Colony Blvd.) and the Christmas Spectacular light show at the Central Fire Station.
- Dec. 4 starting at 5:45 p.m. at Peters Colony Elementary School, 5101 Nash Drive, The Colony. Free. thecolonytx.gov/832/holiday-in-the-park.
MIDLOTHIAN LIGHT-UP PARADE
An evening parade closes out the Southern Star Christmas Celebration in Heritage Park. Floats, marching bands and decorated vehicles will travel North Eighth Street to West Avenue F in downtown Midlothian.
- Dec. 4 starting at 6 p.m.in downtown Midlothian. midlothian.tx.us.
WYLIE CHRISTMAS PARADE
The lighted parade travels on Ballard St. in downtown Wylie to Old City Park, where Santa will help illuminate the Christmas tree.
- Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. concluding at Olde City Park, 112 S. Ballard Ave., Wylie. Free. fbw.church.
ALLEN ROTARY CHRISTMAS PARADE
Community groups and businesses will participate in a Christmas in Toyland-themed march that begins at North Cedar Drive and St. Mary’s Drive, proceeds south to Main Street, and ends at the traffic circle at St. Mary’s Drive.
- Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. in downtown Allen. Free. allenrotary.org.
LANCASTER CHRISTMAS PARADE
The parade leaves Beverly D. Humphrey Tiger Stadium at 1 p.m. and heads south on Dallas Avenue to Historic Town Square (Dallas Avenue at Main Street) for a festival with food, games and photos with Santa.
- Dec. 11 starting at 1 p.m. at Beverly D. Humphrey Tiger Stadium, 3030 N. Dallas Ave., Lancaster. lancaster-tx.com/628/christmas-parade-festival.
ARLINGTON HOLIDAY LIGHTS PARADE
Thousands are expected for a holiday kickoff in downtown Arlington. The event includes Reindeer Games for children, live entertainment, selfies with Santa, the lighted parade and the Christmas tree illumination in Founders Plaza. The route has changed slightly this year, with the parade stepping off at 6 p.m. from West South Street and Lampe Street, then winding through downtown past the Levitt Pavilion, City Hall and the Arlington Public Library before arriving at Abram and Cooper streets.
- Dec. 11, festival from 2 to 8 p.m. at Founders Plaza, 100 W. Abram St., Arlington; parade from 6 to 7 p.m. Free. holidaylightsparade.com.
MCKINNEY PARADE OF LIGHTS
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is the theme of this year’s parade through historic downtown McKinney. Visitors are encouraged to use the free trolley service which will run from 5 until 9 p.m. from First Baptist Church, 1615 W. Louisiana St. to Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Park (one block west of the square).
- Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in downtown McKinney, 111 N. Tennesse St., McKinney. Free. facebook.com/McKinneyChristmasParade.
DESOTO HOMETOWN HOLIDAY PARADE
The community parade steps off from the Disciple Central Community Church and heads west on Pleasant Run Road to DeSoto Town Center (211 E. Pleasant Run Road). Post-parade activities at the town center continue into the afternoon with story time, photos with Santa and ice skating.
- Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. starting from Disciple Central Community Church, 901 N. Polk St., DeSoto. Free. facebook.com/DeSotoRec.
